Sony to offer Final Fantasy XIII edition PS3 in Japan

Sony isn't letting the launch of one of this year's most anticipated games pass without the chance to sell a few more PlayStation 3 consoles.

The company will launch a special edition PlayStation 3 console bundled with a copy of the game on Dec. 17, the same day that Final Fantasy XIII hits shelves in Japan, it said Thursday at the Tokyo Game Show.

The white case features an illustration of "Lightning," the game's heroine, and the Final Fantasy XIII name.

Inside is a 250GB hard-disk drive, which is just over double the capacity of the drive in the recently relaunched PlayStation 3.

The console will cost 41,600 yen (US$459).

International launch plans were not disclosed.

The Final Fantasy role-playing series is developed by Square Enix and has sold over 85 million units worldwide since it first launched in 1987. It's one of the most popular games in Japan.

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